advocacy issues

Homeless Persons’ Advocacy

“…these things become the norm: that some homeless people die of cold on the streets is not news. In contrast, a ten point drop on the stock markets of some cities, is a tragedy. A person dying is not news, but if the stock markets drop ten points it is a tragedy! Thus people are disposed of, as if they were trash.” – Pope Francis, General Audience on UN World Environment Day, June 2013

‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Matthew 25:35-36

OVERVIEW

Housing is a basic human right, along with food, work, education, health care, freedom of expression and religious freedom. When one lacks housing, the other basic human rights usually are marginalized to limit a person’s participation in the social, cultural and economic sectors of society. Yet each day over 600,000 Americans are homeless, with 36 percent being families. Thirty-eight percent have no shelter. Twenty-two percent of the homeless population lives in California.1 In Orange County almost 13,000 people lack adequate housing, due to economic challenges, mental illness, addictions, discrimination or lack of affordable housing.2 Three and one-half percent of Orange County school children are homeless, live in shelters, double up with other families, reside in motels or campgrounds.3 Shelters and transitional housing programs accommodate and attempt to meet the needs of the sizable homeless population, but thousands live each day without the security of a key to enter the front door of a dwelling to call home.

1The State of Homelessness in America 2013, National Alliance to End Homelessness2Orange County Register, September 24, 20133Orange County Department of Education, 2011 Statistics

Emergency and transitional shelter that provides housing and supportive service to women with children and single women. All clients are assigned a case manager who works with them to develop an individualized service plan that addresses the issues, such as substance abuse or domestic violence that caused them to become homeless. Clients are required to gain employment and save 80% of their monthly income to assist with their transition into permanent housing. Average stay is 6 months. Must be sober, homeless and employable.

DEANERY 6

IRVINEFAMILIES FORWARDServes Orange County 8 Thomas Irvine, CA 92618 (949) 552-2727 Not an emergency shelter. 14 single family homes. Family must pay rent. Food and personal care items available to families by appointment only every week for families. Limited to once a month and up to 6 visits a year for others. Prevention program including limited financial assist and counseling for families on the brink of losing housing.LAKE FOREST SOUTH COUNTY OUTREACH Serves Saddleback Valley, Irvine to San Clemente 26776 Vista Terrace, Suite B-12 Lake Forest, CA 92630 (949) 380-8144 Assists with emergency food, transitional housing, occasional rent and utility assist and medical prescriptions. Serves Saddleback Valley, Irvine to San Clemente.TUSTINHOPE FAMILY HOUSINGServes Orange County 1 Hope Drive Tustin, CA 92782 (714) 258-4450 2nd Step transitional housing for families with children or single parents with children. Large families are given preference. Length of stay varies. Must be referred by O.C. Shelter. Must be employed and willing to save 70% of income. Rental fee. Serves Orange County. Must be referred by O. C. Rescue Mission – listed below. HOUSE OF HOPE O.C. RESCUE MISSION Serves Orange CountyP.O. Box 4007 Tustin, CA 92702 (714) 247-4379 12-18 month transitional residential program for women and their children (ages 11 yrs and under) providing clients with basic education, job training, parenting classes, and one-to-one counseling. Intake is done through a two-step interview process. Christian program affiliated with the O. C. Rescue Mission in Tustin. Facility is not an immediate emergency shelter.O. C. RESCUE MISSIONServes Orange County 1 Hope Drive Tustin, CA 92782 (800) 663-3074 Long term shelter for helping homeless people who want to get back on their feet. Men, women, and families accepted into the program. Also offers a Celebrate Recovery program, case management and counseling, workforce and computer training, child development center, recreation and transportation services. Also offers a clinic for medical, dental, and optical services. Call (714) 247-0300 to make an appointment – works on a sliding fee scale, application assist for the uninsured. Spanish spoken.

DEANERY 7

LAGUNA BEACHCOMMUNITY OUTREACH OFFICER PROGRAMServes Orange County Laguna Beach Police Department 505 Forest Avenue Laguna Beach, CA 92651 outreach@lagunabeachcity.net (949) 497-0366 Department position created to directly respond to community concerns regarding the homeless. Works close with social services agencies in an effort to place homeless individuals in short-term shelters and long term housing. Also helps provide basic needs to help end the cycle of homelessness. FRIENDSHIP SHELTERServes Orange County P.O. Box 4252 Laguna Beach, CA 92652-4252 (949) 494-6928 Shelter and a comprehensive program to assist homeless single men and women get back on their feet. Case management, individual and group counseling, life skills training, housing and special service for individual with mental health disabilities. Transitional housing. Maximum stay is 60 days. New intake individuals must call Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Must be clean and sober.SAN CLEMENTEFAMILY ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES Serves Parts of Orange County 1030 Calle Negocio, Suite G San Clemente, CA 92673 (949) 492-8477 Provides a 26 bed homeless shelter for women and women with children under the age of 10 yrs. Offers rent/utility assist, bus passes, gas vouchers, info and referral.GILCHRIST HOUSE Serves Orange County (Family Assistance Ministries) 1030 Calle Negocio, Suite G San Clemente, CA 92673 (949) 492-8477 Shelter service for women with children ages 10 yrs. or younger. Case management, support groups, resource referrals, parenting skills, budgeting. Must be employed, in job training or seeking full-time employment. Clean and sober 120 days. Sliding fee scale. No one turned away due to lack of funds. * Previously received grants from Catholic Campaign for Human Development: *AMERICAN FAMILY HOUSING Serves West Orange County 15161 Jackson Street Midway City, CA 92655-1432 (714) 887-3221 330 units of emergency, transitional, and permanent housing. Counseling and case management. Financial, personal, and communication information Ages 18 yrs+. Drug free. S.H.I.P. (Self-help Interfaith Housing) is an ecumenical venture of volunteers from 19 churches which provides a four month residential program designed to lead program guests to permanent self-sufficiency. The area served with this program is West Orange County bordered by Lincoln Avenue to the north, Interstate 5 to the east, the 55 Freeway to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. *
MICAH’S WAY Serves Orange County 1913 E. 17th #O Santa Ana, CA 91705 (714) 667-7110 Help to support homeless and impoverished while they work through their issues by stabilizing and improving their living, working, financial and educational opportunities.= *
THOMAS HOUSE TEMPORARY SHELTER Serves Orange County P.O. Box 2737 Garden Grove, CA 92842-2737 (714) 554-0357 and (714) 647-7534 – Hotline Transitional shelter for homeless families located in Garden Grove. Families seek employment, save money and locate permanent housing. Supportive services include: budgeting, life skills, case management, ESL classes, tutoring, family counseling, social service referrals and job counseling. Length of stay is 3-6 mos. Spanish spoken.

“The lack of safe, affordable housing requires a renewed commitment to increase the supply of quality housing and to preserve, maintain, and improve existing housing through public/private partnerships, especially with religious groups and community organizations.” –USCCB, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, 2011 The Church,

“sharing the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially those who are poor or affected in any way,” feels it has a serious obligation to join with those who are working, without self-interest and with dedication, to find concrete and urgent solutions to the housing problem and to see that the homeless receive the necessary attention and concern on the part of public authorities. –John Paul II, Letter to Pontifical Commission Justitia et Pax, 1987